10 Basic Linux Commands with Examples

Dec 22, 20172052Aakash

This article provides the top 10 most common Ubuntu commands that you use very frequently. If you are Ubuntu user then you need to know these commands. Through Terminal we can control, execute any operation in Ubuntu. Though you can do it using GUI, but Terminal is the most powerful provided for this purpose. Windows cmd(command prompt) also similar to the terminal but as much effective. So here you go with 10 Basic Ubuntu Commands.

sudo -i

This command makes you superuser of the OS. In fact, superuser has abundant privileges. New packages, Updates can be installed only by superuser. From terminating process to mounting a drive requires superuser. After $ sudo -i enter your password. This command security for important contents of the OS.

cd Name_of_the_directory

This helps in moving inside in the directory. This command work only in moving forward. In fact, Multiple directories also are mention in a single command. Like $cd Documents/mydoc/docs1. cd means Change Directory. This command works in all Linux Distros.

cd ..

cd .. helps in moving backwards in the directory (File System). Similarly cd .. nature is like cd name_of but functions opposite.In fact, Move to root directory by simply typing cd / . In fact, this command does not vary from distro to distro.

ls

ls command list all the contents of the directory. ls can be coupled with -a, -l etc. ls -a also lists the hidden contents.

dpkg

dpkg is a powerful command line tool which helps in installing, deleting packages, software in the OS. Package must be of (.deb) extension because the Ubuntu support this extension. This command executes with superuser like sudo dpkg -ipackage_name.

sudo ps aux|grep process_name

This is a customized command. It helps in deleting the unnecessary processes. While It gives the PID (Process ID) and after getting PID execute this command kill -9 PID.

apt-get

apt-get is a very powerful command line tool. This command also installs, delete and update the software or packages. In fact, This command different for different distros. This command works in this way sudo apt-get install package_name.

shutdown

shutdown command simply turns off the system. In fact, shutdown can be modified by adding some option to it. Like shutdown -r simply reboot the system.

man

This tool is like a information store of all the commands. Just type man name_of_the_command and will every option, method, description for that command. Like man ls, man shutdown, man cd, man apt-get.Ex-man ls

rm

This command removes or deletes a file in the directory. rm directory_name delete an empty file. In fact, Use rm -r director_name to delete the directory and its contents recursively. This command does not vary from distro-to-distro.

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